Drum handling attachment for fork lift



March 18, 1958 1.1. MUELLER 2,827,184

DRUM HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT Filed Dec. 3l, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ':LET' E INVENToR.

JO//A/ J /Wafuf/a BY @gaa-7F March 18, 1958 J. J. MUELLER 2,827,184

DRUM HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT Filed Deo. 31. 1954 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1s, 1958 .1. J. MUELLER 2,827,184

DRUM HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT Filed Dec. 3l, 1954 5 Sheets--Sheecl 3 IN VEN TOR.

United States Paten-t DRUlVI HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT John I. Mueller, Katonah, N. Y., assgnor to Basic Methods, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1954, Serial No. 479,156

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-313) The present invention relates to materials handling equipment and particularly to an attachment for a fork lift truck to enable such a truck to be utilized in the handling of cylindrical containers such as drums of oil, chemicals and the like. The device is also adapted to the handling of other cylindrical containers such as barrels and of special containers, such as boxes and cans.

More particularly still the invention relates to an attachment of the type described which may readily be positioned upon the forks of a fork truck and which is operable to pick up and release containers without the necessity of the truck operator leaving his seat on the truck and which may be utilized to dump the contents from a container, the initiation of the dumping being under control of the truck operator from his position on the truck. In one embodiment of the invention means are also provided to control the rate of dumping from the truck operators position, without the necessity of maneuvering the truck and fork elevator mechanism to effect this control. In another embodiment the rate of dumping is controlled through maneuvering of the truck if it is desired to perform operations requiring such control; frequently such rate control is not needed, as, for example, when dumping drums of rubbish.

It is an object of the invention to provide an attachment for a fork truck by means of which it is possible to pick up, dump and release cylindrical containers such as drums, barrels and the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a device which may be operated without the truck operator leaving his seat on the truck.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment of the type mentioned arranged so that the discharge of the contents of a drum or other container may be initiated by the lift truck operator from his normal position on the truck.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such an attachment for a fork truck by means of which the rate of dumping of a container such as a drum may be controlled independently of any maneuvering of the truck and from the truck control position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such an attachment which is readily positioned on the forks of a fork truck without the need of complicated fastening devices and with a minimum expenditure of time.

Gther -objects and features of the invention will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevational view of the forward portion of a fork lift truck showing the attachment of my invention in place thereon and showing also a drum which has been partially engaged by the attachment;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure l but showing the position of the attachment parts when a drum has been picked up by the device and is being wird into a lars@ vat or @einen r'ce Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the braking cylinder which is utilized to control the dumping movements of the device;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of a second embodiment of the invention which omits a brake which is present in the first embodiment and provides for controlling the rate of dumping only by maneuvering of the lift truck; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures l-4 thereof, there is shown at 16 a base member for the lift fork attachment of my invention. This base member comprises the hollow generally rectangular tubes 11 and 12 which are closed at their left hand ends and which are so dimensioned that the usual tines 13 of the forit of a lift truck, a portion of which is shown at 14, may enter into the tubes. Joining the tubes 11 and 12 are the cross-braces 15 and 16 which are rigidly lxed to the tubes 11 and 12 and complete the base 10.

Fixed to the under side of each of the tubular menibers 11 and 12 adjacent the forward end thereof (the left end as seen in the drawings) is a bracket, the brackets being designated 17 and 15. Mounted in these brackets is a shaft zu which thus extends across the front of the attachment. l-ivotally mounted on the shaft 2o is a sleeve 2i to which is xed a mast 2A which extends in a generally vertical direction but in its normal position leans slightly toward the left at its upper end. Extending between the sleeve 21 and the mast AZ are the diagonal braces 23 which hold the mast against movement in a sidewise direction. lne mast Z2. is hollow and has a slot in the forward edge thereof. A latch member 24 is slidably mounted in the hollow generally cylindrical mast 22 and is spring-urged downwardly by means of a spring 25 fixed to the latch 2a at one end and to a pin 26 lixed in the mast at its opposite end.

Fixed to the mast LA at the lower end thereof, is a hook 2l which races upwardly. This hook cooperates with the downwardly racing notch in the latch member Z4 to hold a drum such as that shown at 26 in position.

lne mast ZL is normally held in the position shown in Figures l and 2 by means of a cable 5ft which cable is fixed to the mast 22 at one end and to a rod 29 extending between the tubes il and i2 at the other end. lntermediate its ends the cable Sil passes over a pulley 31 which pulley is rotatably mounted in a fork forming an extension or a piston rod 32. lhe piston rod 32 is iixed to a piston s (see Figure 4) which operates in a cylinder 34.

ihe opposite ends of cylinder 34 are connected together by means of a pipe 'se which, intermediate its length, has a valve 36 controlled by means of a cord 37 which extends to a point adjacent the operators seat on the fork truck.

The piston 33 is provided with an aperture 3S on the left hand side of which a flap valve 46 is positioned. lt will be seen therefore that the piston may move to the iet at a rate determined by the position of the valve 36 but may move to the right at a rate determined by the size of the aperture 3S which aperture is so large that there is no substantial impediment to the movement of the piston in' the direction mentioned. The cylinder 34 is filled with a hydraulic lui'd, such as oil. Also the piston is urged to the right by means of a light spring 41.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention in which the brake is omitted and the mast is held in position by a mechanical latch. Many of the parts of this form are identical with those of the form previously described and are consequently given the same reference characters; the de- 3,.; .i Y K ostor. tube 51..which..is .v supported at its forward ends on legs 52 and 53, which legs are supported on base members 11 and 12 respectively,.the-: tuberlitogethere withalegs 5.2 andsoztlis any desiredlocation. The .drnmmay be .placedinlthe new...

location by reversing the process described immediately above.

If it is desirableto tip the drum in order that the conforma tripod. [Pivotallygmounted inarslotniriiftheitub-ee 5 tents may flow therefrom, the truck with therfork 13 51 atits forward upper end is a latchzilfformedmithm: hook 55 'adaptedV to engage a ring;fi'frigidlyg` xedtQ-the mastr22.:V Y Y j' f Latch. 54 is oscillatable aboueitsxpivot and iSlmteti-.w` mits movement by thefstoppins l5? -andgawhich strikeY 1 against opposite sides of the tube 51. Connected` ,101116 latch` 54-is a-,cord 6i) whichsnfastenedeto .the liftatruC-k adjacent the drivers positionsVA T hust byVv Pulling upomtle cord 6th the latch 54 may beoscillateid inraeounteIQlOck-g wise direction to release the ring tion'about shaft 2.1..V y VV y o Y Y The device of this invention. Vin.either embodimentis readily installed upon Athe.tines\ of-forlctruck .by-J lowering. the fork 13 againstthefoor;,andmovingthe.=truck.pinto.;

59 fandmastf 22 -for Y.rota-.f 1

' positionV withthe'tines withinfthe channels V11Yan`d 20 Chains such'as those shown in;Figurres.2 and'6 anddesigjV nated 43 areV then. passedY about the ,fork .to hold the attachment in position thereon` With either form ofthe inventionthe contents kof a.. 'Y containerrmay be discharged without utilizing areceiv,ing 25 container; with the irst form.; the rateof discharge .may be controlledoin such `an operation whereas with the second form it cannot. n Y 'Y Y Reference to Figures .land 3 will .show vthat to discharge the contents` ofafdrumsuch asf28 at acontroll'ed 30 rate it is only necessary afterY elevating theiforkY 13 toY an extent such that the ldrum may' be rotated to pullfon cord 37 to open valve 3:6V to al desired'extent... Fluid can thenY flow at the `controlled rate; from the left hand side of piston 33 to the right hand side thereof andthe 35 piston 33 will move to the leftatl a controlledrate. fAlso the mast 22and drumwill rotate in a .counterclockwise direction at a controlled rate the cable 0v lying upon the surface of an arcuate segment 29 iiXed tov mast 22.

The second form .of theinvention may, in a similar 40 Y inweithervof the manners just above'd'escribeiothe mast may be returned to original Yposition' by lweringrthe lift fork and if necessary backingth'e trucli'until the empty drumvlies in a horizontal position von the iioor. 'I'h'ere-Y after, as the truck is backed'and lowered the, drum-will" rotate about its rear edge and the'mast will come again a to the erect position. Thereis, of course; no resistance to this'cl-ockwise movement of mast 22 in either fo'rrn off the invention. In the first form'th flap' valve opens 'topermit unrestricted `movementofthe "piston 33 to the right; inthe second form no resistive force is present. o Once the mast is erect the drum' may be `released from hooks Z4 and 27 in the manner described hereinafter.

inoperating either form; fork" 13 is 'elevatedjto'lan 'exe tent suchlthatv thelatch"24when in^its lowermost'position withinthe mast 22'is above'the `top of a container such asthe oil drum-HandY the -truck-is-driven-toaposif tion Vin 'whichthe notch in latch-24w lies above 'theY rim of thefdrum. Y

Thefork v13 Yis then lowered untilltheflower hook 27 rests uponthe floor at which'time-the notchtin-latch24 will Vhave engagedf-the rim of thedrum-fand Ythespring 25 Mwill. have beenV extended. Due.- to --the l fact; that the mast 22..tilts forward itisl possiblefor the-'hook-27'fto rest upon thefioor-inlhe.mannenstated T he-vfork ltruck is thengmoved .forwardjslightly/, causingfithe-drumY-ZS Y to .tip. so; that the hoolt'l'l.` may .move unde'n'fthe bottomv angerofgthe drum. Thereupon.axslightrearward move#` ment,ofthe'truckpositionsthe lower rim Ylorflange Vof g the drum in thenotch of the hooknnemben'l still in the elevated positionxisjs'driven to a position in which the drum,rests against,a,container into vwhich the f contents of 'thetdrum-areztozbedumpedt` preferably with the drum so elevated that/a" point beneath the centerof 0 the'drumfmakescontact withtlie-:upper rim-:ofthe icona.

taincr.l Thereupon the cordtlor Y60is fpullelandthe mast with the drum still in position Vthereon aslstated; -is released .to rotate about the rim.ofthehcontainer,v material then owing from the 'drum intothe container.

As the dumpingmperationproceedslthe forklS may be elevated and the truck advanced until the mast and drum assume a position such as that indicated in dotted outline Figures. and 5.v `When;.thecontents of VTthe drum: have .,b'eenemptied. into .thecontainer vthe Struck theA mast and` drum to rotateina/clockwise direction. In th'eriirstl form .offthe invention-the piston 33 is substantiallyfree' forlr movementinthe-cylinder 34 due to the provision of the iiap' valve 40;while `in the second Vform no resistance to'su'chclockwis'e movement is present.

' ne'arlyjvertical'position the'dr'umjis transported toV any desired"'location; the forkrjlowered; and .the'dr'um re leased from theV mastbyfa reversal'ofrth'e, operations trstjV described.

which are i noti'cylihdrical YAYbut whichf'are provided 'with top'and'bottom-iianges or rimsgjmaybe operated 'upon the particular-means of pivotingrjthe kmast and. as re' spects `the meansfor permittingfrotationoffthe mast under control'ofabrake` f I*wishthereforertobe'limited not bythe foregoing i description which was given" Vfor illustrative Vpurposes only; butl on ithe contrary to-berlimitedsolely bythe claims granted to me:

Wh'atisi claimed is: Y

1. An attachment for a forklift truckcomprising; in combination; a base having a pair of spaced tubes adapted to receive tines of thetruck 'forkya mast pivotall'y Ymounted on said base, means on saidmastfor holcli'ngsaidmast` in substantially :upright position;A saidV meansfcomprising a hydraulic cylinderfhavingea piston Atherein and having a piston rod extending therefrom;saidpiston'rod 'being connected to-saidv'mast;andmeans'for'releasing said mast for movement about its pivot, said releasing means comprising a bypassc'r hydraulic iiuidffrom `one end of the cylinder to the other', and-a manually operable 'valve in said lbypass line'whereby the /rate'ofmovement'of said mast`v about its pivotfmaybe adjusted by'operation ofl said valve. Y v Y v2.- A- device ats-claimed in claim' l; characterized in thatV a iiap valve-is provided on'saidpiston of'saidhydraulicfcylindeigfsaidfapvalve permitting movementeof saidV p1ston-freely in--thefdirectioneoppositeto that permitted by operation of said releasing valve. v Y

Y 3.2. AJ device-asflclaimed iny Vclaim V2, characterized in to restore -said mast tonormal position, said spring having sufficient force "to move 4said pistonv throught the 'hydraulic fluid withoutexerting restoringforce yon said mast.' Y

4.1 An attachmenty for `a -forlc'rlifttruck-comprising, in

of Ztheetruck'forkymeans joining said-Y tubes to'fornria base 'anda shaft extending acrossL said Vbase iat the edgev thereof remote from-the lift truck; amast 'pivotally mounted fonsaidf'shaft for` rotationjina verticalV plane, az hook member xed to'ftheiower end oisaid mastfsaid may *beKV backed away fromLthel containeL-thus causing When'the containeriandmastare'again in theY on'ginal.

While the voperatio'nand structure have been described f inthe same manner." It will also'beunderstood lthat many' variationsfof the device may jbem'ade' both as respects thatla spring-is provided furging said pistonina direction combinatioma'pair'fof tubes adaptedto receiveA the tines.`

member facing forwardly and having an upwardly facing notch therein adapted to engage the lower flange of a container, a second hook member mounted in said mast for vertical reciprocation, said second hook member facing forwardly and having a notch therein facing downwardly and adapted to engage the upper flange of a container, said second hook member being spring-urged in a downward direction, and means mounted on said base for normally holding said mast in a position slightly inclined from the vertical with the upper end thereof extending forwardly of the lower end, whereby the truck may be placed in position with the fork thereof elevated and the notch in said second hook member above the upper ange of a container, the fork then lowered to engage said second hook member with said upper llange and the lowering continued until said rst hook member touches the support on which the container rests, the truck then advanced tipping the container and placing the first lsaid hook member beneath the lower flange with the notch of said member engaging said flange.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that releasing means are provided for said holding means,

said releasing means being manually operated whereby a container held in said hook members may be elevated and thereafter said releasing7 means operated to permit said mast and said transported container to rotate about said pivot, thereby permitting the contents of the transported container to be discharged.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said mast is freely movable from its rotated position to its normal position whereby by manipulating the truck fork, said mast and the container thereon may together be rotated about said pivot point due to contact with a stationary surface to thereby restore said mast to its normal position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 679,279 Fairchild July 23, 1901 1,296,675 Lobdell Mar. 11, 1919 2,399,360 Lacey Apr. 30, 1946 2,410,373 Westervelt Oct. 29, 1946 2,482,692 Quales Sept. 20, 1949 2,545,021 Coupland et al Mar. 13, 1951 

